asteatotic dermatitis; eczema craquelatum; xerotic eczema; winter itch

Etiology

• xerosis, aging
• too frequent bathing with hot soapy water
• high environmental temperature with low humidity
• pharmaceuticals
  • beta-blockers: atenolol

Epidemiology

• common pruritic dermatitis, especially
  • males over 60
  • winter months

Pathology

• decreased sebum production (intrinsic aging)
• spongiosis

Clinical manifestations

• xerosis (dry skin), pruritus
• occurs on the legs, arms, hands & occasionally trunk
• characterized by dry, cracked, fissured skin with slight scaling
• tile or plate-like erythematous pattern on dry skin with excoriations due to scratching
• may persist for weeks to months

* images

Management

• avoid overbathing
• increase ambient humidity
• application of emollients after bathing
• medium potency corticosteroid topical agent BID until resolution of eczema

More general terms

• eczematous dermatitis (eczema)